We had the good fortune of connecting with Shadi Harati and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shadi, how do you think about risk?
Many family & friends thought I was taking a big risk moving from a stable business & Country in Canada.

However, if I wanted to take my business to the next level I needed to risk that by moving to Houston. In order to minimize the risk, I did thousands of hours of research in the carwash industry & studying the city of Houston.
I didn’t leave too many stones unturned, combined with operating diffrent types of carwashes in Canada & the weeks I spent down here before moving. It didn’t feel like a huge risk by the time I made the move official.
Preparation is the ultimate tool in defeating stress & minimizing risk. Not taking risks is “safe” however, being safe holds you back….. & nothing worth having ever comes easy. Some will say “SAFE IS DEATH”.

What should our readers know about your business?
Our Carwash prides itself on putting out the cleanest, driest & shiniest car out there, in the fastest possible time without sacrificing quality.

We have an exclusive 3 step wash process, that uses heated chemicals (only one in Houston) exclusive equipment that reach the most difficult areas of the car to clean & a unique rinsing & pre-drying process that allows us to put out a great, clean,dry & shiny car in well under 3 minutes.
I’ve also focused on building only inside of Houston city limits, specifically inside beltway 8, all 4 current locations & the 5 in planning will all be inside the beltway. I even sold 1 location to focus on the inner city.
What has helped me immensely was actually a tragic event……. It caused me to take over as the General Contractor on my 2nd location. Doing that has allowed me to get the best possible deals on construction, bypassing general contractor fees & finding good deals on properties. This makes it more affordable & practical to grow at my current rate.
I want the Pink Cadillac theme carwash to be the talk of Houston & hopefully my move from a small Canadian city to Houston & leaving many family & friend’s behind motivates others to follow their dreams.

 

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well I don’t drink…..& neither do most of  friends…but when my friends visit from Canada, I’d take them to watch a few professional sporting events, a little trip to Galveston, rent some jet skis, everyone loves the outlet malls, definitely visit 1-2 Brazilian steakhouses & of cousre my absolute favorite Pizza place “Pizzaro Pizza” 2 great locations!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Sonny’s carwash factory, they’re the largest carwash manufacturer in the world. Their website is a wealth of knowledge &  their people are amazing.  Because of mine & there willingness to push the envelope to take express carwashing to new heights,  they use my facilities to be test sites for new innovations. We get to be the 1st to try out new equipment & they take our input seriously in making any necessary adjustments.
 I also want to give credit  to my brother Abdel  who supported my vision from Day 1,  without him none of this would have been possible. Also Julio Rodriguez.  He joined my company & moved here from Dallas with his wife & kids to be my G.M & right hand man right before we opened our 3rd location. He believed & trusted my vision for the company. Without people like him & the rest of our management team, none of this would be possible.

Website: www.cadillacexpresscarwash.com

Instagram: Cadillacexpresscarwash

Facebook: Cadillac Express Carwash

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.